Lined reactor vessel



May 6, 1958 D. B. RossHElM Err-AL LINED REACTOR VESSEL 'A 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed nay 17. V1954 May 6, 1958 D. B. Rossi-nimv .Ln-AL LINED REACTORVESSEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed lay 17, 1954 FIG.;

, INVENTORS DAVID B.ROSSHE|M YVICTOR K. TOCK B G'. .02%. Zan/1xATTORNEYS United States Patent O LINED REACTOR VESSEL David B. Rossheim,Teaneck, and Victor K. Tock, River Edge, N. J., assignors to The M. W.Kellogg Company, Jersey City, N. J., a corporation of DelawareApplication May 17, 19x54, Serial No. 430,108

1 Claim. (Cl.'23288) increments of the react-ants besubjected tosubstantially the same conditions for substantially the same time in-ICC` ture and cannot tiow through space occupied by the lin- 4Thefurther objects, features, and advantages lof the invention will becomeapparent from a consideration of the following detailed descriptiontaken with the accompanying -drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a reactor vessel embodying apresently preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a portion of thestructure of Fig. l on an enlarged scale and to a greater degree ofparticularity;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on lineiS-S of Fig. r2.

The reactor 10 is conveniently a cylindrical Vessel formed of acylindrical body section 12 whose ends are closed by the top and bottomdished heads 13. The internal space of the vessel 10 denes the reactionzone and houses the catalyst bed 11. The reactor 10 is provided with aninternal lining 14 of refractory insulation material which coverssubstantially the whole ofthe interval while in contact with thecatalyst. To achieve this i end it is necessary that the whole reactantstream pass through the whole of the catalyst bed and that none of thereactant flow bypass the catalyst. If the latter occurs, the desiredreactions `will not go forward to the extent desired and the catalystbed will not be effectively employed. Furthermore, bypassing of catalystgenerally results in the channeling of substantial proportions of thereactants into one or more conned high velocity streams of high erosionpotential. The reactor vessels commonly employed for housing thecatalyst bed are generally internally lined with a depth of refractorymaterial to protect the walls thereof from the eiects of high reactiontemperatures. Hence, if channeling occurs at or adjacent the refractorylining of the reactor vessel, said lining will rapidly be eroded out andsubstantial, if not major, proportions of the reactants will flowthrough the lining space and completely bypass the catalyst bed. Thiscondition not only results in greatly lowered operational e'iciency butalso in greatly increased costs due to the increased maintenance,rep-air and replacement bur.

dens. The reactant distribution and channeling problem is especiallyacute in connection with catalyst beds of comparatively low flowresistance. Such 'beds are comparatively shallow relative to theirsectional area so that they do not inherently tend to provide for atleast a degree of automatic ilow distribution in the bed.

AIt is a principal object of this invention to provide a catalyticreactor vessel which includes an intern-al refractory lining and issoconstructed and arranged that the flow of the reactant materialthrough the internal refractory lining is effectively prevented.

It is a further principal object of this invention to provide acatalytic reactor vessel having a refractory lining applied to theinternal wall thereof and adapted to support a bed of catalyst thereinin which sealin-g arrangements are provided which seal the lining spaceto the ow of the reactant material therethrough and restrict said ow tothe cross section thereof normally occupied by the catalyst bed.

It is a still further important object of this invention to provide acatalytic reactor vessel having a refractory lining applied to theinternal wall thereof which includes a ow impervious structuresurrounding `the space` normally occupied by the catalyst bed and unitedto a flow impervious bathe positioned across said lining adjacent thereactant material inlet to said reactor, to the end that the reactantmaterial introduced into said reactor canonly tlow through thespaceencompassed by said structernal surfacev thereof. The material of lining14 is preferably a settable, refractory, high temperature cement and isapplied in the conventional manner by means of a conventional pneumaticspray gun arrangement. A-s an aid in depositing a refractory lining 14of substantially uniform predetermined thickness and in holding thelining 14 in position after it is deposited, the bolts 15 and washers 16are provided over the whole internal surface `of the reactor 10. Thebolts 15 are of substantially uniform length and are welded to the wallof the reactor 10 and to the washers '16 which are preferably made ofcorrosion resistant alloy. The surface of the lining 14 may be flushwith the surface of the washers t 16 but when the composition of thewashers 16 is such that contamination of the catalyst is a possibility,the lining 14 is of a suilicient -thickness 'to cover the washers 16 asshown.

A manway 17 is provided in the upper head 13 to afford entrance into thereactor 10 for assembly and maintenance of the internal structurethereof and introduction thereinto -of the catalyst bed 11. The manway17 is normally closed by a cover 18 which is bolted or otherwiseremovably united thereto. The manway 17 and the cover 13 are alsointernally lined with the refractory lining 14. -Thin alloy members 19are employed to hold the refractory lining 14 of the manway 17 and itscover 18 in position and to protect said lining 14. A thin alloy sleeve20 is united to the manway 17 and covers the side of the hole in themain lining 14 through which the lining 14 or the manway 17 extends. Thelining 14 around this hole is further reinforced and protected by thewasher ring 2l which surrounds the inside end yof the sleeve 2i) and isunited thereto. The top head 13 also includes an entrance nozzle 22through which the reactant material is introduced into the reactionzone. The nozzle 22 includes an outer section 23 and an inner alloysection 24. The outer section 23 has a cylindrical lower portion which`is attached, as by welding, to the periphery of the hole in the wall ofthe upper head 13 and a frustoconical portion whose smaller endis'welded to thetubular inner section 24. The inner section 24 extendsinwardly tion material l14. The inner section 24 also carries an2,833,631 Patented May 6, 1958 y Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken online 2 2 of Fig.

arrastrar alloywringwwasher 26S-united theretot which-bears against-vthe surface of `the insulation material 14 adjacent the opening in thewall of the head 13 and serves to reinforce the required stability andrigidity. The construction is such thatiriffduerto wear, lwhethercorrosive orferosive, of `thejlinnerf section' and the distributoribaie? 25;' oreitli'enof. the'my-sa'idsection-24 andthedistributbrZSitnay be easily removed and `replaced.N y

Thebottomthead 13ihsa plurality of'unloading connectionsf/'flextendingtherefrfomK through? which the catalyst of `the bedi 11fmay.berernoved4frornthe-reactor' '10, only one connection 27 is shown. or nozzle' i isbnormally 'closed by Aa I-coverl 23 'whichx is showneas'hinge'dtheretoibut may be'treinovably united thereto in any preferred manner." Thecatalystunloading nozzleb27` includes \a`n1intf:;rnalA alloytliningsleeve 29 spaced therefrom to provide an annular space forthe'aocommodation ofi refractory insulation' lining rnaterialld. Theinner.l end-fof the-sleeve 29 `extends inwardly intothe reactorAA "totthe bottomule'vel of the catalysttherein whichuin` the embodiment 'of'the inventionshown is at` the tangent :'linecofl the cylindrical bodylsection 12 and -the bottonr:headwlfv The ring washer'30iis` united tolthe sleeve `29"and'be`arson thesurface'ofthelining 14. The

The unloading connectioniv stance'byeae45 spa-cingandarerproportioned"to assurea substantially uniform collection capacityalong the `:full length of the arms 38, bearing in mind the circularcross section of the reactor 10. A suflic'ient portion of the lowerexternal surface of each of the arms 38 is covered by a wire cloth 41 tocover the slots 39 and 40. The wire cloth 41 is of such mesh as toprevent the passage of catalyst entrained4 in thetexiting reactedmaterial into the arms 38 without opposing substantialresistance to thellow -of reacted material.` If preferred a plurality'of superposedgraded layersofwire cloth `41 may-beemployed.

Attached to the upper head 13 and somewhat above the upper tangent'lineof' the reactor'10 is a ring '45; The ring 45 is preferably attached'tothe topihead 13 by welding and care is taken to assure a gas tight sealthroughout. A shroud or lining 46 formed of a plurality of similar thinalloy sections 47, four being employed inthe i preferred' embodiment of"the invention shown, are' sering-washer servcs'ito giverthe necessarystability and i rigidity to ithetsleeve 29. A reactantmat'erialoutletconnectionrl 31v2extends2from '.thei'centert ofI the` bottom heacli` 13mThe connection-L31 includes an outer section 32 made upsof a cylindricalportion which `is `united toi the bottom 'head f131and afrusto-conicalportion whose smaller endiiisunited to the" inner tubularIsection-33 which-is madelof` a rsuitable `resistant alloy. The annularspace= betweenth'eisections 32 and'33 is 'filled with refractory' lining'materiali14- i T heinner's'ection 33' extends into'tlie reactor. 105tor a-leveli somewhat' below the bottom level A ring washer 34`islunitedto y of' 'thelcatalyst bed. 11i'. the inner section 33.andbears on the lining14 tof give strength and rigidity to the outletconnection 31. The' space ofthe reactor llbelow the' level of thebottoni of` the catalyst bedtllg: thcatangenttlin'e of Abody sectionfJZfandbottom 'head 13, `fis lledlwithl inerti material 35gas'A forinstance, alumina or Alundum in coarsely subdivided't form, to assure aproper separation of the reacted materials from the catalyst' of the bed11. It is at presentV preferred to employAlundum balls as' the inertmaterial 35,.the Alundum ballsbeing graded with the larger balls pat thebottomand the smaller balls at the top. The grading in size ranges fromabout s diameter balls to about l diameter balls; Resting on the inertmaterial 35 vand with its top at the levelfof the inert material 35 isan alloy spider arrangement 36 through which the reacted material iscollected for passage through the outlet connection 31. The `spiderarrangement 36 includes a central domelike hub 37 which, as shown, isformed of` a cylindrical body portion whose upper end is closed by adisc welded thereto. The cylindrical body portion of the hub 37telescopes over the upper end` of the inner section 33 of the outletconnection' 31 with a slip tit, it not being necessary to exclude 'theow of the reactantst through the thereto, asby'welding. Each arm '38`has an elongated:

bottom Islot 139 extending the fullr length l thereof; Each of said armsis also provided with two slots 40 which'exten'd for` substantially itheouter-half" of the'arms 38; The slots39 and40are radially spacedapa'rt,asforin= cured` at their 'upper ends' to the" ring 45 'by` means'of a plurality -of-spaced"bolts` 48which are threaded in' ap propriatespaced holesindh'ering 45. To assure'A anA impervious barrier thevjoints between the heads' of the boltsL 48 andthe"` liner sections'47'I are sealed by iillet' welds49 Fortlie same purpose' the top edgesof the linersecti'ons'47` and ringv 45 are sealed by llet welds 50i'The' sections 47 are formed of 'light' gauge' alloy' material of'ananalysis" proper' to withstand the 'corrosive etfects ofthe materials"Yhandled" in the reactor' 10 and 527 as 'Well astliejointsbetweenthe'nuts 54 and the end' portions y51A are sealed bydepositing filletwelds 55.' The joint betw'eenthe' shanks'of 'the boltsVv 53 and thenuts' 54 are"likewisesealed by depositing fillet' welds 55. The joint'between, the abutted anged ends of the` adjacent endA portionsSl" arellilrewise'sealed 'by depositing weld' metal- 56' there'along.'

Tlearrangement described' provides an opening at the topand an openingat the bottom in' the shroud 46' at each pair of juxtapose'dend'sections'Sl.' Each oi these top*openingsisclosedl byplacing therein atriangular shaped blarlkin'g plate" 60 which as shown extends in partabove and in partbelow the upper edge ofthe' sections 47 The4joints'b'etween 'the blankin'g' plate'60`and the upper 'edges ofthe'endportions'51'and betweentlie blanking plate'andthe'riri'g 45'are' also`se'a'led Iby the deposi-4 tion'of fillet welds '61)v The lining shroud46" extends downwardly in tlierecto'r'lito the bottom' of the catalystbed 11; that is' toY tlie tangent. line'of'the'bottom head 13 and theieylindricalbody'section 12; The' lining46 is formed'of lightmateral, forinstance in the order of 16 gaugesheetrnetaL'so thatit may' freely'expand and contract with temperature changes'without'settingup'stressesthat wouldtend t'o'rupture it'or'so distort it as to permit flow'between' it and the outerl wall of the reactor 10. The light gauge"metal furthermore assures against leakagedueto distortion or'ruptureAat' theupp'er end of the liner 46' sinceit'-may easily' be'restrained'by the much heavier and'strong'er 'ring' 45.

The catalyst'bed 11 as' stated has'its'bottom' at approximately thelevel of the bottom tangent line ofthe reactor 10 and' extends upwardlyto' alevelsom'ewhat below the upper tangent line' to accommodate acovering bcd' 63 "of'in'ert material'of'the same or similar character asthe materialA 35".L `It isat' present' preferred to form the bed 63ofAlundumballs of about 1"' diameter.

The'watalystbed 11'm`ay be made' of any material suitable'forYcarri/ing' out' the desire'dl'reactio'n and' may be of anypreferredparti'cle size. By' way of'exa'mpl'e and'notlimitation,"wherrreforming light hydrocarbon oil', for

instance when reforming a naphtha of about 52 A. 4l. I. gravity, and 30C. F. R. R. clear octane rating and having an I. B. P. of about 185 F.yand an E. P. (A. S. T. M. distillation) of about 390 Ff in the presenceof hydrogen and at temperature of about 900 F. at a pressure of about500 p. s. i. g., the catalyst bed 11 is composed of a platinum catalystwhich includes about 0.5% platinum, based on the total weight ofcatalyst, supported on alumina to which has been added about 2% byweight of silica to stabilize the alumina at elevated temperatures. Thiscatalyst is generally in the form of short, approximately cylindricalpieces of a diameter of about and of a length ranging from about l toabout 1/2.

Although many changes can be `made lby those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description and appended claim `and shownin the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative andnot limitative.

We claim:

A reactor vessel comprising a normally vertically disposed cylindricalshell having a refractory insulating lining covering the internal wallsurface thereof and defining a reaction zone including a section adaptedto house a bed of subdivided contact material, inlet means in the top ofsaid vessel for passing reactant material to said reaction zone, outletmeans in the bottom of said vessel for outlet of reacted material fromsaid reaction zone, a flow impervious annular member united to thevessel wall positioned in the region of said inlet means landsurrounding said inlet means, said annular member extending across saidinsulating lining, a light gauge impervious metal lining covering theportion of said insulating lining defining said bed housing section andextending upwardly to said annular member and united thereto, said metallining formed of a plurality of similarly united sections, each of saidsections having a channel-like cross section, said channel-like sectionsjuxtaposed with their respective llanges extending inwardly to simulatefolds therein to thereby provide for substantially unrestrainedexpansion and contraction of said metal lining, and a plate member ofapproximately triangular section united to said annular member and saidsections and extending into the upper end of the space between saidjuxtaposed channel sections to seal said space to the ow of reactantmaterial therethrough.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,799,234 Huff Apr. 7, 1931 1,993,500 Benner Mar. 5, 1935 2,460,052Werner Jan. 25, 1949 2,548,519 Cummings Apr. l0, 1951 2,657,121 RollinsOct. 27, 1953

